2024 Toyota Tacoma Review Roundup: A Massive Improvement on an Already Great Pickup
The first drive reviews of the 2024 Toyota Tacoma are in, and it’s clear that it’s poised to be the mid-size pickup to beat.
The 2024 Toyota Tacoma was revealed back in May, and needless to say, it’s a model that we’ve been waiting for – rather patiently – for years now. After all, the outgoing model was more than a bit long in the tooth, but in all fairness, Toyota sells so many Tacomas that it didn’t really see a need to reinvent the wheel. Now, with competition in the mid-size truck market coming from seemingly every direction, the entirely new from the ground up 2024 Toyota Tacoma has arrived – and so have our first batch of reviews from around the web – at least for the lower trim, non-hybrid models. Luckily for us (and Toyota), it seems as if there aren’t many bones to pick.
As Eric Stafford of Car & Driver points out right off the bat, the 2024 Toyota Tacoma is notably more expensive than its predecessor, as one would expect from a brand new vehicle these days. What makes the difference here is, there’s enough new and improved equipment present to justify that cost. “While it now costs thousands more than before, the 2024 Tacoma’s myriad improvements make up for the lineup’s higher bottom lines,” Stafford says. For example, the base SR starts out at $32,995, which is $2,900 more than the 2023 model, but when you consider that it comes with the turbocharged 2.4-liter I-4 as standard versus the old, optional 3.5-liter V6, that difference shrinks to $660, not accounting for the improved transmission options.
Over at MotorTrend, Scott Evans calls the 2024 Toyota Tacoma a “massively improved pickup,” one that has been “infused with a heavy dose of Tundra” on the outside and fitted with a modern cabin inside. “It’s a huge leap forward over the old model and finally looks contemporary while retaining big, user-friendly hard controls,” Evans notes. The same goes for the new powertrains, which have plenty of power throughout the rev range and “never feel stressed” like the outgoing mills, Evans says. “Toyota rightly decided to stop resting on its laurels and build a truck that makes no apologies or excuses,” he concludes, signaling that this may very well be the best mid-sizer out there.
Over at Cars.com, Keith Bunglewicz also points out that the Tacoma’s new engine lineup is “a huge step forward” compared to the old one, with more than enough power on tap to get the pickup going. He notes the driving position is much improved as well, with more adjustability in the steering wheel and seats, the cabin is roomier, and the ride quality is much improved. “The Tacoma is now a much more compelling truck from nearly every metric and more competitive with the new crop of midsize trucks it faces,” Bunglewicz concludes. “Tacoma has long been the best-seller in the midsize truck segment thanks to its reputation and legions of loyal fans, and there’s little reason to see that changing.”
Finally, we have Mack Hogan of Road & Track, who also calls the 2024 Toyota Tacoma a “huge leap forward,” transforming a rather dated machine into something that’s actually rather nice to drive. He also notes that it’s “far quieter,” and “the handling is exceptional,” pointing out that Toyota has managed to rectify pretty much everything that needed fixing on the long-running and hugely popular outgoing Tacoma. “For 2024, the Tacoma’s sterling reputation lives on, but now backed by a solid driving experience, even better off-road capability, good fuel economy, and a cabin that feels modern enough,” he said. “If the 2024 Tacoma can match the reliability reputation of the previous truck – which is not guaranteed with an all-new truck – then it’s safe to say it’s the truck I’d buy. Anyone can build a good product, but a great product is one that lasts.”
2024 Toyota Tacoma YouTube Reviews
Lastly, for those who prefer watching car and truck reviews to reading about them, here’s a great collection of 2024 Taco reviews from a bunch of our favorite YouTubers (in no particular order) —
Photos: Toyota
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